Endurance

About this book

Voted the 'greatest runner of all time' by Runner's World in 2013, Emil Zatopek redefined modern running training techniques - with remarkable results. He is famed for setting a raft of world records, and winning the Olympic 10,000 metres in London in 1948, followed by the remarkable and unprecedented treble of the 5,000, 10,000 and marathon four years later in Helsinki. However, his story goes way beyond races and results. From a lowly factory worker, 'the Czech Locomotive' became a global hero due to his success on the track but - at a time of political instability - Zatopek risked everything for the love of his friends and country, and soon found himself cast adrift into political exile. At its heart, this is a love story as Emil courts and marries Dana, a promising javelin thrower. Born on the same day, they end up winning Olympic gold medals within the space of half an hour. Due to the unprecedented involvement of Dana, award-winning Times author Rick Broadbent has gained unique access to a dramatic past involving blood and guns and the love that sustained the cruellest twists of fate and beatings by Soviet henchmen. With traces of Chariots of Fire and Laura Hillenbrand's New York Times bestseller/film Unbroken, this is both a wonderful love story and a landmark tale of hope and strength in the face of crushing injustices.

Themes & subjects